High-tension locking-switch.



' 0." SESSIONS. man msnm LocKlNG swlrcu.

" APPLIQATION FILED SEPT.$, 19H.

1 320,992a Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

UNITED sTATEs EDSGN 0. SESSIONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HIGHTEN S103.T LOCKING-SWITCH.

Specx'cation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919,

Application filed September 6, 1917. Serial ANo. 189,923.

2h ali 'who/n, z't may concern Be it known that I, Epson O. Sessions,k

a citizen 'of `the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,` have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in High-Tension .Locking-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of ,high tension locking switch adapted for convenient, safe and. enl'ective operation.

Wit-h the great advance made in the art oi transmitting and using electric current, the need has arisen for switching devices which will not only be applicable to alternating current circuits of high potential, but which also 'nust be positive in operation, and which may be positively locked in closed position,

so as to bei` prevented from accidentally' opening the circuit, should the current liowing through the switch be. abnormally increased for any reason. Switching devices of this kind arerequired for as high as 110,000 volts or higher and frequently must have a carrying capacity of 1 0() amperes or more and for such service the insulating units employed must necessarily be ot' large dimensions and the length of the switch blade must 'be correspondingly large to pro- -vide a perfectly safe construction, which will not only carry the necessary current when the switch is closed. but will also positively and safely open the high tension circuit whenthe switch is openu My invention relates to a switch of this type and contains novel features of construction, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which, i

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a coniplete switching mechanism,

Fig. 2 shows in front elevation the switching mechanisml shown in Fig. l,

Fig. d is an enlarged se/ctional View of the parts shown in Fig 1 taken along the line ems,

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the operating tool employed in connection with the switch,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the locking mechanism, and

Fig. 6 is a view of a modified base con struction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views;-

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and l the switch construction consists of two base clamps 10 and 1l for supporting the insulators 12 and 13, the base clamps being rigidly connected together by metal rods or tubes 1l so that the clamps l() and 1l are rigidly and permanently held at a proper distance from each other and in proper alinement with cach other, thus preventing the improper placing of the insulators 1Q and 13 relatively to each other. This is an important feature of my construction, as it results in positively supporting the switching mechanism so that the switch blade will at all times properly engage the contact clips when the switch is mounted for usc since the ventire structure is assembled in the factory and therefore constitutes a unitary structure which is preferably shipped and installed without disasscmbling any of the parts.

The insulator 12 has rigidly secured to its outer end in any desired manner a pivot clip l5 to which the lower end 16 of the switch blade is pivot-ally secured. The portion 16 ius rigidly secured to a metal tube or rod loof good conducting material, such as copper, which carries at'its other end a contact block 1S arranged to engage the contact clip 19 carried by the outer end of the insulator l13 in any desired manner.

IThe contact block 18 has secured to its upper end a lock casing 20 from which a `locking latch 21 extends into engagement with a catch 22 mounted adjacent the contact clip 19 and in electrical connection therewith7 when the switch is in its closed position. The contact clip 19 is connected with one of the conductors 23 of the electrical circuit -by a connecting clip 24 secured to an extension formed on the catch Q2 in Jhe manner indicated, the relation of the parts being such that the projecting portion of the latch 21 and the catch 22 are located below the connector clip 24 permittingthe edge of the casing 20 to lie immedi ately adjacent the outer surface of the connector clip 24;. This arrangement results in utilizing the available space to the best advantage and facilitates the employment of the particular construction of lock cas ing indicated as a result of which the superior results described below are secured.

As shown in Fig. 5 theplock casing 20 is hollow or recessed to contn the latch 21 having an openingfor receiving operat-v mg tool and an inclined surface terminait-'-VM 2. In a switching mechanism, the combination of a pivot clip, a Contact clip, means for supporting said. clips at a fixed distance from each other,a Switch yblade pivoted to the pivot clip and engaging the contact clip when the switch blade is in its closed position, a lock casing carried by the free end of the switch blade, a latch pivotally mounted in said casing, a catch mounted adjacent said contact clip for engaging Said latch, and a conductor extending from said contactclip adjacent said casing, said casing having an .opening for receiving an operatingi tool and an inclined surface terminating adjacent said conductor for engaging and directing an operating tool into said opening when said operating tool is moved along said conductor toward said casing, said latchhaving an operating portion overlapping said opening and a spring tending to hold said latch in .its en aging position.

3: In a switching mechanism, the combination of a pivot clip, a. contact clip, means for supporting said clips in fixed relation relatively to each other, e. switch blade pivoted. to said pivot -clip andengaging said contact clip when said blade is in its closed position, alocking latch carried by the free endv of-said blade, a catch mounted adjacent 'said contact clip for engaging said' latch when said switch blade is closed, a conductor extending from Said contact clip, and a directing bracket carried by the free end oi said switch blade having an inclined surface terminating adjacent said conductor when said switch blade is in its closed position to engage and direct an operating tool.

into releasing engagement with said latch when said tool is moved along said. conductor toward said inclined surface. ^l. In a switching mechanism, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, means for supporting said clips in fixed relation relatively to each other, a switch blade piv-v oied to said pivot clip and engaging said Contact clip when saidblade is in its closed position, a locking latch carried by the free end of said blade/,a catch mounted adjacent said Contact clip for engaging said latch when said switch blade is closed, a conductor extending from said Contact clip, and a directing bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade having an inclined surface terminating adjacent said conductor when said switch blade is in its closed position to engage and direct an operating tool into releasing engagement with said latch when said tool is moved along said conductor toward said inclined surface, said bracket hav- -l i si ingv a recess forreceiving said operating tool ktocmove said switch blade to its closed position and a guiding wall for-preventing motion of said tool from -its latch releasing position.

5. In a switching mechanism, the combinationof a pivot clip, a contact clip, means for'supportingsaid clips at a fixed distance from each other, a switch blade pivoted to the pivot clip and engaging the contact clip when the switch blade is in its closed position, a lock casing carried by the free end of the switch blade, a latch pivotally mounted in said casing, a catch mounted adjacent said contact clip for engaging said latch, and a conductor extending from said contact clip adjacent said casing, said casing having an opening for receiving an operating tool and an inclined surface terminatin adjacent said conductor for engaging an directing an operating tool into said opening when said operating tool is moved along said conductor toward said casing, and an operating tool com Ising an insulating handle and a metal loop carried by the end of said handle, said loop being conformed to surround said contact clipwhen said loopis brought into engagement with said inclined surface.

6. In a switching mechanism, the combination of a pivot clip, ya contact clip', means for supporting said clips in fixed relation relatively to each other, a switch blade plv-- oted to said pivot vclip and engaging said contact clip when said blade isin its closed position, a locking latch carried by the' free end of said blade, a catch mounted adjacent ,said contact clip for engaging said latch when said switch blade is closed, a conductor extending from said contact clip, and a directing bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade having an inclined surface terminating adjacent said conductor whe engage and direct an operating tool into releasing engagement With said latch whdnsaid tool is moved along said conductor toward said inclined surface, and an operating tool comprising an insulating handle and a metal loopcarried by the end of said handle, said loop being conformed to surround said con- 'tact clip when said loop is brought into engagement with said inclined surface. f

7. A tool for operating a locking switch comprising an insulating handle and agmetal loop carried by the end of said handle, said loop being conformed to surround the clip contact of a switch when said loop is being vsaid switch blade is in its closed position to mehzmi' l vwd by @im mimi: and 011i' smid trod.; mi@ hx die 'being im the frm of a, i909 "L0 Conbm um nngguhu adjustment Said handig and op e'wltngj kmp.

53. 1n L ocking switch, the cnmbnaton mi' :1 pvot clip., a Contact Iclip?, mmm@ fm' ,"1 fr poting mid (11i ps in lsled rchlfton l'im'ivuLy t0 anch @than :L Switch Made piwted L0 lid pivot dip amd Gngug :sa-xd @Jumet C'jp "when smid :switch blade in its Cluse@ 'posh Hou, :n bracket allied by the mid switch binde, a latch p imtaly nmuuited (m sub bxmkot. and L muh 'for @waging S'LLL 'mmh when smid switch blade ifs in it@ 0.11.' ed position, smid Ln'ucmt having' am penugg thaw through oxiiuuvlugg oblig 'iv across mid brack und 001111111111cntingwith L sfide 0pmng for s 'evng an opmfutng tool, said b achat having im ouml' oblq'iw Suzlce te mnntng in said sidi: opening and, he op pwhite, wall of said (mening being amended mtwnrdly tu direct un operating tool 'into mid sida opningg;

l0. h: u imc/kings du; umnbhmzion M :L pv tcl} w cmlhwbclp, ummm fo fem'ppmb# 'ing' smal dips; in ixvfl fehl-tionmlgtve to cach other, :1 Eiwit-ch blade, pivotal t Suid pvot clip nud engaging szd Contact d@ Wlu-:fn smid switch blade 'is in NQS closed possionw u blzwku; cmred by Hm Mid switch blad@ :l latch plmtaiy mounted mi smid bizwiet, and u @mich for ngagngf; mid lividi wijn-xn Said @witch blade "is in its dosed position, said bracket hzmfng an. Opening fxfidu'ough eiw-v tndng ob'l'cpm'y' warms smid bracket und commumfrwtngy with :L sd@ (np/ning im' m cuis/ing am operating m01? Suid. bmuizlm; hawngg un 0mm' @mique Sm'im tcl'mimxiug in s-(Ld sid@ claiming and tlm uppofg- L Wall of; Suid Wuming being* mtmndwi fminvzul'iy to 

